Quick Read
- Brad Gushue and Brad Jacobs secured playoff wins at the Montana’s Brier in St. John’s.
- Gushue aims for a record seventh Brier title in his final appearance at the championship.
- Gushue will face Jacobs in an elimination playoff on Saturday afternoon.
- Matt Dunstone and Kevin Koe will compete for a direct spot in Sunday’s final.
- The Brier winner will represent Canada at the upcoming men’s world championship in Utah.
ST. JOHN’S (Azat TV) – Veteran curlers Brad Gushue and Brad Jacobs have secured crucial playoff victories at the Montana’s Brier in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, keeping their championship aspirations alive. Gushue, a six-time champion, is on a determined quest to win a record seventh title in what he has stated will be his final Brier appearance, adding significant emotional weight to the competition.
On Friday, Gushue recovered from an earlier misstep against Matt Dunstone to defeat Ontario’s Jayden King 12-6 in a playoff game. Earlier in the day, Gushue had hogged his final rock while up 5-4 against Dunstone, creating an opening for Dunstone to secure the winning shot. However, Gushue, alongside third Mark Nichols, second Brendan Bottcher, and lead Geoff Walker, regained firm control in their evening match against King, scoring three in the seventh end for an 8-4 lead and adding another four in the ninth to prompt King to concede. Gushue acknowledged the mounting pressure, stating, “We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty here. There’s not going to be too many games. I’ve got to figure out a way to get that out of my head tomorrow, but it’s probably something I’m going to have to deal with.”
Gushue’s Quest for Brier History
Gushue’s path to a potential record-breaking seventh Brier title remains challenging in his hometown, where he first claimed victory in 2017. He is scheduled to face reigning Olympic champion Brad Jacobs in an elimination playoff on Saturday afternoon. The winner of this highly anticipated ‘Battle of the Brads’ will advance to Sunday’s semifinal, while the loser will be eliminated.
Jacobs Rebounds in Curling Playoffs
Brad Jacobs, along with Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, rebounded from an earlier 7-4 loss to Alberta’s Kevin Koe by defeating Manitoba’s Braden Calvert 7-3. Jacobs’ team, which took a challenging route to their Brier win last year after dropping their first playoff game, acknowledged the mental and physical toll of a demanding season. Jacobs noted the difficulty in maintaining energy after their recent Olympic gold medal run in Cortina, Italy, less than two weeks prior, admitting, “It’s really, really hard to muster up the energy to care. It really is. Just feeling the effects, mentally, physically, everything of the last six weeks.”
Key Brier Matchups and World Championship Implications
Meanwhile, the Page playoff between the top two seeds will see Matt Dunstone face Kevin Koe on Saturday. The winner of this match will earn a direct berth into Sunday’s final, while the loser will need to win the semifinal to secure a rematch for the title. Four-time champion Koe, 51, has shown strong form in St. John’s, leading his team despite challenges in the middle of his lineup. He was named the first all-star team skip on Friday, boasting a tournament-leading 89 percent accuracy. The ultimate winner of the Montana’s Brier will represent Canada at the men’s world championship from March 27 to April 4 in Ogden, Utah, and will return next year as the defending champion in Saskatoon, wearing the Maple Leaf.
The heightened stakes of the Montana’s Brier, particularly with Brad Gushue’s declared final appearance and the physical demands on Olympic champion Brad Jacobs, underscore the intense blend of personal legacy and national representation that defines elite Canadian curling.